The largest museum of contemporary African art in the world, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) in Cape Town, South Africa, has temporarily closed its doors to the public following the spread of the lethal coronavirus, globally. Zeit shut its doors on March 17, 2020 and will stay closed till further notice regarding any developments in the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement released on March 17, 2020, MOCAA said the health of its staff, guests, partners, and artists was a priority and they were taking measures to reduce the spread of the virus according to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation and the South African Government.
“We heed the call by Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, and his recent address to the nation, that “this situation calls for an extraordinary response” and the government’s plan of action will be followed,” read the statement.
Zeit MOCAA added that they were currently evaluating the impact of these measures on their future exhibitions and programming and were working with artists and stakeholders to evaluate the changing environment.
“We are continuously monitoring this situation and further updates will follow as soon as possible. General admission tickets already booked for this period will either be fully refunded or accepted for entry when the museum re-opens.”
Other places that have shut down in South Africa in the wake of COVID-19 include the Two Oceans Aquarium and eight Iziko Museums.
